This paper presents the results of a 2010 survey exploring the determinants of rural mental health in two farming groups in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Old Order Mennonites (OOMs)
and non-OOM farmers. Comparing these two groups reduces the likely impact of
many contextual features impacting both groups, such as local economic
conditions. We explore a comprehensive list of health determinants to assess
their relative importance and thus enable policy action to focus on those
having the greatest impact. The mental component summary (MCS) of the short- form
health survey (SF-12) was used to measure mental health. We compare mental
health in the two populations and use multiple regression to determine the
relative importance of the determinants in explaining mental health. The results
show that OOMs experience better mental health than non-OOMs, in part due to
the strong mental health of OOM women. Coping, stress and social interaction
shape mental health in both groups, reflecting
the broader determinants literature and suggesting these are important
across many populations with different life circumstances. Other determinants
are important for one group but not the other, underscoring the diversity of
rural populations. For example, different social capital measures shape mental
health in the two groups, and sense-of-place is associated with mental health
in only one group (OOMs). The results are discussed in terms of their implications
for future health determinants research and policy action to address rural
mental health.

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